Good and evil Quote by R.J. Rushdoony
““According to Scripture, it was not man's flesh that fell into sin, but the whole man. The doctrine of total depravity means that the extent of the Fall is total, that every aspect of man's being is tainted by sin, and that the root of it is the 'heart' of man, in his mind, nature and being. To seek refuge in the spirit to escape from the flesh is to seek sanctity in the capitol of sin, for it was and is man's desire to be as God, to be his own god, determining good and evil for himself, which is the essence of original sin (Gen. 3:5). The ascetic quest thus took refuge in sin from sin! It flew from the suburbs of temptation into the central city of sin and was then bewildered to find the enemy there.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Institutes of Biblical Law, 1973
Human nature is wholly affected by sin; seeking spiritual refuge can paradoxically trap one in sin itself
In simple terms: Sin corrupts all aspects of humanity; seeking spiritual purity may lead to deeper sin
Key Takeaway
Beware of spiritual pride and self‑deification
Themes
theology
human nature
sin
Mood
cautionary
introspective
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- religious study
- personal moral assessment
- ethical counseling
Key Concepts
original sin
total depravity
spiritualism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true sanctity look like?
- How avoid we avoid becoming the 'god' of our own morality?
A Different Perspective
Spiritual pursuits can become self‑serving if not grounded
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
